Manufacturing prices continue to rise

28/05/2010 15:00

In April, marketing prices in Dutch manufacturing were nearly 11 percent up on April 2009. In March, manufacturing prices were 8 percent higher. For the fifth month in a row, marketing prices were up on one year previously, but the price level in April was still below the level of mid-2008, when prices soared to record levels.

With over 55 percent, the petroleum industry by far showed the most substantial price increase in April relative to April last year. Prices in the petroleum sector are directly affected by the crude oil price. The euro price of a barrel of North Sea Brent oil was 65 percent up on one year previously. With a 24 percent price increase, chemical products were more expensive than one year previously.

In April, marketing prices of products manufactured in the Netherlands were 2 percent higher than in March. After September 2009, prices have each month been higher than in the preceding month. Prices on the export market rose more rapidly (3 percent) than prices on the domestic market (1 percent).